Turbocharged piston engine having improved economizer and self ignition

ABSTRACT

A conventional turbocharged internal combustion engine of either 2 stroke cycle or 4 stroke cycle having auxiliary mechanism adapted to capture hot products of combustion or exhaust gas and by compression elevated heat provides ignition, superheated steam expansion energy and includes an exhaust turbine for utilization of powerful blowdown energy and by great reduction of final exhaust temperature facilitates condensation of combustion compounded water for recirculation through an included water reclamation and combustion cooling system.

United States Patent [191 Sorensen Dec. 18, 1973 TURBOCHARGED PISTONENGINE HAVING IMPROVED ECONOMIZER AND SELF IGNITION [76] Inventor:George C. Sorensen, 589 SE. 4th

St., Ontario, Oreg. 97914 [22] Filed: May 10, 1971 211 Appl. No.:141,868

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.800,200, Feb. 18,

1969, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 60/11, 60/14, 60/15 [51] Int. Cl. F02b 9/00 [58] Field ofSearch 123/252, 25.1, 25 P;

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,433,185 10/1922 Da Costa..60/15 MTTERY Goldsborough 60/15 1,848,380 3/1932 Parks 123/2522,113,601 4/1938 Pratt.. 60/15 2,352,267 6/1944 Kelsey 123/252 PrimaryExaminer-Martin P. Schwadron Assistant Examiner-Allen M; Ostrager [57]ABSTRACT A conventional turbocharged internal combustion engine ofeither 2 stroke cycle or 4 stroke cycle having auxiliary mechanismadapted to capture hot products of combustion or exhaust gas and bycompression elevated heat provides ignition, superheated steam expansionenergy and includes an exhaust turbine for utilization of powerfulblowdown energy and by great reduction of final exhaust temperaturefacilitates condensation of combustion compounded water for resi a q129951 39 qlwlqduualqi n and combustion cooling system. V

1 Claim, 7 Drawing Figures 1 M9057 TURBINE 56 C O/VDENIER FORCE )4 :JPUMP TURBOCHARGED PISTON ENGINE HAVING IMPROVED ECONOMIZER AND SELFIGNITION The present application is a continuation -in-part of Ser. No.800,200, filed Feb. I8, 1969, now abandonned.

Other related patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3572037, 3688496, andpatent application Ser. No. 68395, now pending.

The present invention represents a great advance in the automotiveinternal combustion engine since it utilizes heat discorded through twoof the major sources of efficiency loss. The greatest efficiency of theconventional internal combustion engine runs about 34 percent theysuffer their greatest heat losses, about 30 percent through the exhaustsystem, and another 30 percent through the cooling system. Varyingtemperatures of engine parts, varying pressures of combustion processand faulty combustible mixtures, are some of the causes contributing topoor efficiency; exhaust emmissions of partialy consumed fuel and otherparticles further contribute to the already dangerously pollutedatmosphere. The electrical spark ignition system of the conventionalinternal combustion engine causes many engine failures and also causeselectronic interference with radio reception. A serious fault is thatsuch radio activity quickly reveals their position to an enemy duringmilitary action. High pressure injection pumps, leaks, and the like,cause serious trouble in the Diesel engines.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide anengine using the low compression heat intensified exhaust gas forignition of the fresh charge of combustible mixture partially forcedinto the greater compression zone of auxiliary cylinder, when bypropagation of flame combustion process in a controlled manner, the heatintensified exhaust gas travels through the restricting passage into themain combustion charge where its function continues.

It is another object of the present invention to pro vide an enginecapable of capturing unburned fuel particles, rearrange them in relationto unused oxygen molecules, and ignite them by the compression elevatedexhaust heat.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an enginehaving clean exhaust emmissions.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an engine,which after ignition, forces hot water from combustion cylinderscoolingjacket flashed as steam through diverging nozzles into shieldedcompression bays of auxiliary cylinders compression zones thereby forabsorbing compression intensified heat of the exhaust gas, therebyproviding great expansion pressure for opposing further invasion of thecombustion process into the auxiliary cylinders.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of great steamand exhaust gas expansion for blowdown through an exhaust turbine.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of great steamand exhaust gas expansion for the vigorous blowdown energy and collapseof pressure in the auxiliary cylinder communicating its elastic massinertial movement to draught the entering combustion exhaust gas forcapture, boosted by the blower driven air or combustible mixture.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an engine having lowcompression exhaust gas ignition without the necessity of having themassive weight and strength of the Diesel engine construction. Stillanother object of this invention is the provision of the great expansivesteam cooling of products of combustion gas while still in captivityunder pressure facilitating the condensation of its compounded water forcirculation through the cooling and steam systems of the engine asmakeup water. 1

With the foregoing and other objects in mind I have developed an enginefullfilling theseobjects by the new and novel arrangement, combination,ane construction of parts as hereinafter more fully described and setforth in the claims appended hereto and disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings forming part hereof. It will be well to state at this point theengine may vary in form, number and arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the internal arrangement of a twostroke cycle uniflo internal combustion engine and auxiliary partscomprising the improvement.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing the central separator and its parts.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a four stroke cycle engine and itsrelation to its. auxiliary improvement parts.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on plane 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a single cylinder with auxiliary parts.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view taken on plane 6-6.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a modified structure.

In describing the several embodiments of the invention illustrated inthe drawings, like reference figures will be used for similar elementsfor the sake of clarity; However, it is not intended to be limited tothe specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that eachspecific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in asimilar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

Referring now to one embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1 represents aturbocharged two stroke cycle internal combustion engine havingauxiliary mechanism capable of receiving, capturing and compressing hotexhaust gas from the combustion chamber, for utilizing heat commonlyrejected through the exhaust system. The auxiliary mechanism providesignition, absorption of heat by steam expansion, pressure derivedoposing further intrusion of combustion process, a powerful blowdownblast for energizing the exhaust turbine and by expansion greatlycooling the exhaust gas thereby facilitating the condensation of thecombustion compounded H O water vapor. The said exhaust gas comprisesprincipally carbon dioxide, nitrogen and compounded water vapor. Thecarbon dioxide and nitrogen may be exhausted to the atmosphere filteredof its solid particles. In FIG. I:

A reciprocatively mounted piston in cylinder 1 is piv otally secured toconnecting rod 24 rotatively engaging crankshaft. 3 rotatively mountedin crankcase 31; a spacer 20 secured between cylinder 1 and auxiliarycylinder 6 provides communication from cylinder 1 with cylinder 6through elongated flanged passage 19 providing bay 28; auxiliary piston7 pivotally secured to connecting rod 23 rotatively engaging crankshaft8 rotatively mounted in crankcase 9-provides reciprocating action topiston 7; crankshaft 3 and crankshaft 8 are miter geared to shaft 11with a 12 degree lead on crankshaft 8 providing early opening andclosing of exhaust ports 12 in relation to admission ports 13; a pumpcomprising cylinder 71 machined in bearing support 72 and a plunger 21is actuated by cam 73 and adjustable wedge 32 to receive pressurized hotwater from channel 25 formed in cylinder block communicating withcooling water jacket 14 forced through passage 74 flashed to steamthrough divergent nozzles 75 tangentially into bay 28; blower 5 forcescombustible mixture through ports 13 into cylinder 2; passages carryfinal exhaust through turbine 76 condenser 56 water treatment filter 70force pump 27; a bypass relief valve 62 is inserted in excess flowcooling water system and return passage to force pump 27; insulation 15may be formed around auxiliary cylinder; start up electric ignitionisindicated by battery 77 switch 78 and glow plug 79.

Referring to another embodiment FIG. 3 represents a turbocharged fourstroke cycle internal combustion engine and auxiliary mechanism showingthe relation of all elements in relation to each other and by usingsimilar referrence numbers as the embodiment in FIG. 1 here again number1 indicates a combustion cylinder; combustion piston 2 disposed toreciprocate pivotally secured to connecting rod 24 which rotativelyengages crankshaft 3 having secured gear 10 engagement with one halfspeed secured gear 10a with crankshaft 8 rotatively engaging connectingrod 23 pivotally secured to reciprocative piston 7 in cylinder 6; aconventional admission valve 81 is provided for cylinder 1; and astopper valve 82 to close passage 19 only during admission stroke anddrawn by spring 83 sealably against its valve guide 85 providingconduction cooling and seal oposing pressure leakage along valve stem 81during compression and combustion stroke; a yielding resilience 84provides safety against over pressure on valve during its closure; atimed pressure pump cylinder 71 is formed in cylinder head 20 havingcommunication passage 74 with water jacket 14 plunger 21 isreciprocative in said cylinder actuated by cam 73 on half speed camshaft86 engaging wedge 32 through lever 87 and link 88; pump plunger 21 maybe variably controlled by lever 16 and wedge 32; a rotary retentionvalve 80 timed with chain 89 looselycloses exhaust ports 12 during first90 degrees of piston 7 compression stroke for capturing exhaust gas butis open during auxiliary cylinders exhaust blowdown; An exhaust turbine76 and blower 5 are provided for charging combustion cylinder 1; acondenser 56 water treatment filter 70 provide H O water reclamation andwater conduit to force pump 27 and water jacket 14 also a hot airconduit from condenser to blower intake are provided. A start upelectric ignition system comprising battery ZW t 78 a w Pl g .79 must hn- Referring to FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the present inventionrequiring only one cylinder and auxiliary elements to complete itscycle; however the engine should be of multicylinder variety ascombustion is acquired only every other revolution of its crankshaft andit does not have compressed exhaust gas ignition. A piston 2 pivotallysecured to connecting rod 24 rotatively engaging crankshaft 3 isreciprocative in relation to cylinder 1; a cylinder head 20 havingadmission passage 79 and admission valve 81, valve spring 90. rocker arm91, rocker arm support 92, check valve 93, water passage 74 incommunication with pump cylinder 71 and ergy through exhaust ports 12and turbine 76. A chain 89 driven half speed, relative to crankshaft,cam admission and detention valve shaft is provided; a pump cam 73 shaft11 could just as well be incorporated in the said detention andadmission valve shaft is illustrated as it is, simplyfing illustration.This embodiment includes the water reclamation system, the variablewater injection system and the turbo blower system as previouslydescribed.

Referring to FIG. 7 is another embodiment of the present invention 10indicates the cylinder block of an internal combustion engine; 11represents a cooling water outlet collecting manifold, 21 is a variablecontrol gear type force pump, 2 is an exhaust port manifold 75 adivergent nozzle, 28 an expansion bay, 76 exhaust turbine, 78 a turbineexhaust pipe to the water reclamation system described in the foregoing,27 a force pump.

In operation embodiment illustrated in F IG. 1 switch 78 is closed andelectric current heats glow plug 79, the engine is cranked by any of theconventional systems, cylinder 1 is charged with a combustible mixtureprovided by carburetion or solid injection, upon compression the mixtureis ignited by the glow plug, the resultant gas expansion drives bothpistons, to their furthest excursion; piston 7 having a 12 degreeadvance timing lead begins uncovering exhaust ports slightly in advanceof piston 2, the resulting uniflo blow down of gas communicates itsinertial mass momentum as a draughting influence to the freshcombustible mixture, further urged by blower 5 in entering cylinder 1 aspiston 2 uncovers admission ports 13. Exhaust ports 12 and admissionports 13 are now closed capturing hot residual exhaust gas andcombustible mixture in cylinders 6 and 1 respectively. A repetition ofcycles continues until operating temperature has been acquired. Exhaustgas ignition is accomplished by a partial transfer of combustiblemixture from the lesser compression zone of cylinder 1 through passage19 to the greater compression zone of cylinder 6 where the said hotexhaust gas has become incandesant from low compression; propagation ofcombustion flame proceeds over comparatively narrow front in acontrolled manner to main combustion charge where it completes itsfunction. Upon moving lever 16 forward cam 72 is caused to act uponwedge 32 to move plunger 21 to force hot water from cylinder 71 flashedas steam tangentially into bay 28 mixing and producing powerfulexpansive energy with incandescent compressed gas and oposes furtherintrusion of combustion process into cylinder 6 and provides powerfulblowdown energy through turbine 76 and greatly cools products ofcombustion or exhaust gas for condensation of the combustion compoundedwater vapor in condenser 56 for water filter treatment for recyclingthrough entire system. Hot air from the air cooled condenser may beducted to blower intake.

In operation embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 switch 78 is closedelectric current heats glow plug 79, the engine is cranked, stoppervalve 82 is closed, combustible mixture is admitted through valve 81into cylinder 1, piston 7 geared one half speed of crankshaft 3 isalready closing its exhaust ports 12 and stopper valve 82 is opened;piston 2 begins its compression stroke with both pistons arriving at topcenter together, ignition of combustible mixture provides gas expansiondriving piston 2 to its furtherest excursion while piston 7 has reachedhalf way in its travel exhaust ports open upon 90 degree rotation ofcrankshaft 3, piston 2 returns on scavenge stroke forcing exhaust gasinto cylinder 6 as piston 7 reaches its furthest downward excursion. Arotary detention valve 80 is in its 90 open position just gas capture,stopper valve 82 closes, piston 2 moving downward admits a fresh chargeof combustible mixture, stopper valve 82 opens, both pistons ascendcompressing their respective charges, hot exhaust gas attainsincandescense, a partial transfer of combustible mixture to largervolume cylinder 6 compression zone is ignited as it contacts saidincandescent exhaust gas and propagation of combustion progresses intocombustion zone of cylinder 1. A plunger 21 actuated by cam 73 flasheshot water to steam through divergent nozzle 75 into highly heated gas,thus providing powerful expansion oposing further intrusion ofcombustion process into cylinder 6 and a powerful blast of blowdownenergy through the early opening of exhaust ports 12, energizes exhaustturbine 76 and communicates its elastic inertial momentum to thecombustion ,gas in cylinder 1, thereby assisting scavenge stroke ofpiston 2 in transferring its exhaust to cylinder 6 for capture. Theexhaust gas greatly cooled by steam expansion from turbine passesthrough condenser 56, the nitrogen and carbon dioxide is wasted to theatmosphere, the combustion compounded water vapor is condensed incondenser 56 and passes through water treatment and filtered of itsimpurities then recycled through the entire system.

In operation embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 does not posess theexhaust gas ignition of the other modifications and requires either aconventional jump spark or other ignition system. Asuming a combustionstroke has just occurred, a loosley fitting rotary detention valvebegins closing during the second 90 of rotation, of crankshaft 3retaining most of combustion gas; piston 2 rising compresses combustiongas to high heat, hot water is drawn from cooling jacket 14a by plunger21 and flashed as steam through divergent nozzle into compression zoneabsorbing heat from combustion gas powerfully blasting through ports 12and open retention valve 80 energizing turbine and by its mass elasticmomentum toward exhaust ports assists blower driven combustible mixtureadmission as .valve 81 is opened by cam 91, pushrod 95 and rocker arm91.

In operation embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 only enough of theelements are illustrated to properly present the improvements thereto.The figure 10 representing an internal combustion engine'and assuming itto be in operation, exhaust gas blasting from exhaust ports 12 is drawnthrough venturi l3; pressurized hot water ad mitted to variablecontrolled gear pump 21 is forced through diverging nozzle 75 byflashing steam compressed in bay 28 by the ejector action of said steamthrough said venturi. The steam and exhaust gas mingling under pressurepowerfully exert their expansive energy through turbine 76, thus greatlycooling and facilitating condensation of the combustion compounded watervapor in a condenser 56 and water treatment filter 70 for recycling asmakeup water through force pump 27 and the entire system; the saidcondenser and water treatment filter being the same as those aspreviously described.

while each of these embodiments differ from the other in appearancetheir functions are the same. Each one might serve more satisfactorilythan another in certain applications. Various changes may be made inshape, size and number of cylinders used. For example, equivalentelements may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein,certain features of the invention may be utilized independently of theuse of other features, all without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as defined in the claims.

The advantages of this invention are many and some embodiments may beespecially adapted for commercial use where semitrained operators areavailable; but the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 7 could be verygenerally used. Superior economy of operation, lower cost ofconstruction, elimination for need of extraneous water supply, lowercost of construction cleaner exhaust emmissions, lighter weight, smallercondensing system required, suppressed noise in operation and lessnuisance heat rejected are some of its desirable features.

What I claim is:

1. A power plant comprising:

an internal combustion engine including at least a cylinder; a pistonslidable in said cylinder and a piston rod operatively connected] tosaid piston provide an expandable combustion chamber;

means for injecting a combustible mixture into said combustion chamberwhereby said engine is driven by theexpanding products of a combustionprocess;

a combined steam engine and compressor including at least a cylinder, apiston slidable in said cylinder and a piston rod operatively connectedto said piston providing an expandable chamber;

said combined steam engine and compressor being mounted adjacent to saidcombustion engine and having an open compression chamber incommunication with the expandable chamber of said combustion engine;

said combustion engine having its piston rod rotatively connected to acrankshaft in synchronous engagement with a crankshaft rotativelyconnected with the piston rod of the combined steam engine andcompressor;

means for leading hot products of said combustion process from thecombustion cylinder to the combined steam engine and compressor;

said synchronous crankshafts causing the concurrent compression of saidhot products of combustion and said combustible mixture in the saidcombined steam engine and compressor and said combustion cylinder,respectively,

said concurrent compression, bringing said hot products of combustion toincandescent heat providing ignition to communicating combustibles;

means for, leading cooling water from a recirculation system aroundcombustion cylinder and combined steam engine compressor cylinder headwhereby said water is heated by said combustion process and superheatedby said incandescantly compressed products of combustion;

means for injecting said super heated water flashed as steam into saidcombined steam engine and compressor compressor to a recirculationsystem, whereby said cooling of said products of combustion facilitatescondensing combustion compounded condensate; said recirculation systemconstituting a means for condensing the said combustion compoundedcondensate and a means to separate the waste gases; said condensatebeing circulated with said cooling water whereby the said condensateprovides necessary makeup water.

1. A power plant comprising: an internal combustion engine including atleast a cylinder; a piston slidable in said cylinder and a piston rodoperatively connected to said piston provide an expandable combustionchamber; means for injecting a combustible mixture into said combustionchamber whereby said engine is driven by the expanding products of acombustion process; a combined steam engine and compressor including atleast a cylinder, a piston slidable in said cylinder and a piston rodoperatively connected to said piston providing an expandable chamber;said combined steam engine and compressor being mounted adjacent to saiDcombustion engine and having an open compression chamber incommunication with the expandable chamber of said combustion engine;said combustion engine having its piston rod rotatively connected to acrankshaft in synchronous engagement with a crankshaft rotativelyconnected with the piston rod of the combined steam engine andcompressor; means for leading hot products of said combustion processfrom the combustion cylinder to the combined steam engine andcompressor; said synchronous crankshafts causing the concurrentcompression of said hot products of combustion and said combustiblemixture in the said combined steam engine and compressor and saidcombustion cylinder, respectively, said concurrent compression, bringingsaid hot products of combustion to incandescent heat providing ignitionto communicating combustibles; means for, leading cooling water from arecirculation system around combustion cylinder and combined steamengine compressor cylinder head whereby said water is heated by saidcombustion process and superheated by said incandescantly compressedproducts of combustion; means for injecting said super heated waterflashed as steam into said combined steam engine and compressor wherebyexpansion of said steam delivers both power to drive the steam enginephase of the combined steam engine and compressor and means for coolingsaid products of combustion; said synchronous operation of saidcombustion engine and said combined steam engine and compressorproviding a driving force of an expanding combustion process andexpanding steam concurrently; means for leading the exhaust steam andproducts of combustion from the combined steam engine and compressor toa recirculation system, whereby said cooling of said products ofcombustion facilitates condensing combustion compounded condensate; saidrecirculation system constituting a means for condensing the saidcombustion compounded condensate and a means to separate the wastegases; said condensate being circulated with said cooling water wherebythe said condensate provides necessary makeup water.